Federation Internationale de Football Association on Monday announced 55 nominees to come up with a team of 11 players to be named the squad of the year. All three now share the record among defenders.

This year, the Merseyside club has four players and they are Dejan Lovren (Croatia), Virgil van Dijk (Netherlands), Salah (Egypt) and Mane (Senegal). Virgil van Dijk, the most expensive defender in history at £75 million, is among the top defenders while Pogba, Eden Hazard, Kevin De Bruyne and N'Golo Kante are in the running as part of the midfielders category.

Chelsea and Spurs have two players each, with midfield dynamo N'Golo Kante and Belgian ace Eden Hazard being joined by Tottenham pair Harry Kane and Kieran Trippier.

None of the current Arsenal squad have been selected in this years shortlist with Mesut Ozil dropping out.

Barça have Ter Stegen, Yerry Mina (now at Everton), Piqué, Umtiti, Alba, Busquets, Iniesta, Rakitic, Messi, Suárez and Coutinho on the list. He has a goal per game ratio of 0.39 goals which shows that he has the power to score goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo is also nominated for firing Real Madrid to a third consecutive Champions League, prior to joining the Old Lady over the summer. Both he and Gianluigi Buffon have been on each list of 55 since its inception in 2004/05.

Salah, in his debut campaign at Anfield, scored 44 goals and swept major awards including the Premier League Player of the Year gong, and last week, was second runners-up at the Uefa Men's Player of the Year award behind Cristiano Ronaldo and victor Luka Modric. However, Gareth Bale has not made the shortlist. Messi, Neymar and Ronaldo were eventually named the attackers in last year's World XI. Midfielder Marco Veratti has dropped out.

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